Periodic switch



y 1, 1948. M. F. MILLER 2,441,501

PERIODIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 10, 194-4 11v VENTOR. /W/'/0 Ff M/V/Qr Patented May 11, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERIODIC SWITCH Milo F. Miller, Kansas City, Mo. Application January 10, 1944, Serial No. 517,626

This invention relates to electrical sound producing instruments and has for a primary object, the provision of a. switch capable of successively energizing a number of electr c-responsive instruments whereby each is brought into play as a portion of the periodic switch is moved through a path of travel.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision of a periodic switch for multi-tone chimes or the like, which switch embodies means movable upon the shifting of a weight, which weight is mounted to respond to the influence of solenoids that are energized by the manual closing of a switch.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a periodic switch of the aforementioned general character, wherein is provided a number of contact points, all in circuit with current responsive devices and each successively engageable by a companion contact point movable from one to another by parts responsive to the shifting of weight due to the energization of the coils of appropriately disposed solenoids.

This invention has for a still further object to provide a periodic switch capable of successively energizing a number of current responsive devices and including means for controlling the speed with which the current responsive devices are actuated and with means for automatically returning the parts of the periodic switch to normal position after all of the series of contact points have been engaged.

More specifically the instant invention has for its aim the provision of a periodic switch wherein a rocker arm is employed to support a shiftable weight upon the movement whereof, in one direction, the rocker arm travels to carry a single contact brush over a series of contact points, after which the said weight is shifted back to the point of beginning and the rocker arm together with the associated brush, is automatically returned to a normal condition.

Further objects of the invention, including a number of ways of producing periodic switches, will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the electro-mechanical features of a periodic switch made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line Ill-II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical, electro-mechanical view illustrating a chime system having a periodic switch made in accordance with a modi- 1 Claim. (01. 175-335) fied form of the invention associated therewith.

A practical manner of applying the periodic switch is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawing. The need for successively causing a group of chimes to be sounded at suitable intervals and through inexpensive means embodying this invention, comprises that part of the equipment illustrated in Fig. 1, for example, with the several chime bars !0, l2, l4 and 16 mounted on conventional tubes 18, 25, 22 and 24. The cores 2E, 28, 38 and 32 are reciprocably mounted within double coils 34, 36, 36 and 40 respectively, and when one coil of each unit is energized, the core will be withdrawn to anormal position.

The source of energy is illustrated as a battery 42, but it is understood that the current may be obtained through any suitable source of elec-' tricity capable of energizing the several cores of the units.

A rocker arm 44, channel shaped in cross sec tion, as shown in Fig. 2, slidably carries a coil 46 which is joined to a similar coil 48 by rod 5%. Coil 46 surrounds a core 52 rigid with the end of rocker arm M, and core 54 rigid with the other end of rocker arm 44 is surrounded by coil 48. Arm 44 is pivoted adjacent its center by a pin or the like 58, journalled in bearings 58. Pin 56 is rigidly mounted through the employment of a bracket 60.

A series of contact points 62, 64, 66 and 68 are in circuit with the portions of coils 34, 36, 38 and 40 arranged to draw cores 26, 28, 3D and 32 to ward their respective chime bars ii), i H!- and 16. Contact point 10 is joined through hereinafter identified conductors, to the portion of coils 34, 36, 38 and 49 adapted to draw cores 25, 28, 30 and 32 from the said chime bars or to a normal position.

Another contact point 12 is joined by wire hi to coil 46 on rocker arm 44. Contact point 16 is connected to contact point NJ by wire 18 and a contact point is connected to manually operate switch 82 by wire 84.

All of the contact points just enumerated, 62, B4, 66,68,10,12, 16 and 89, are in alignment to be successively swept by brush 86 mounted on pis ton 88 that moves along the cavity formed within housing 90, of insulating material. A long con tact 92 against which brush 94 is pressed, is likewise carried in housing 99 and the relation of brushes 86 and 94, is as illustrated in Fig. 1. The contact bar 92 is connected to battery 42 by conductor 96. Switch 82 is joined to coil 48 by wire 96, and coil 46 is joined to contact point 12 by wire 14. Coils 48 and 46 are joined to battery 42 by conductors I00, I02, I04, I06, I08, H and II2.

Piston 88 is joined to one end of rocker arm 44 by link II4 pivoted as at H6 and to compensate for the arcuate path of travel of the end of arm 44 above housing 90, said housing is hingedly mounted as at H8 to any suitable support I20.

The speed with which rocker arm 44 travels about the pivotal point 56 is determined by a dampening device I22 filled with liquid I24 and having a piston I26 secured by link I28 to the end of rocker arm 44 opposite to that with which is joined link II4.

A series of ports I30 formed through tubular stem I32 of piston I26, permits the passage of liquid I24 from one side of piston I26 to the other side thereof. These ports I30 are arranged in an inclined path so that a plug I34 may be shifted to open a predetermined number of the ports to control the speed of travel of rocker arm 44. Cylinder I22 is hingedly mounted as at I36 to a support I30.

The operation of the switch and its associated electro-responsive sound producing elements is as follows:

Assuming the position of the parts to be as illustrated in Fig. 1, the two points of switch 82 are closed and coil 48 is energized to shift its weight and the weight of coil 46 to the left along rocker arm 44. Current is supplied to coil 48 when switch 82 is closed through wires 98 and 84, contact point 60, brush 66, brush 94, contact bar 92, wire 96, battery 42, wires II2, IIO, I00, I06, I04, I00 to coil 48. Such energization of coil 40 will cause the same to shift longitudinally onto core 54 and move rocker arm 44 to force brushes 86 and 94 into housing 90. The escape of liquid from one side of piston I26 to the other side thereof, through ports I30, will determine the speed of travel.

As piston 89 is lowered, brush 86 will first engage contact point 16 to energize that portion of coil 40 that withdraws core 32 from its related chime bar I6. The circuit causing such movement is as follows:

Contact point 16, wire I40, contact point 10, wires I42 and I44 to the lefthand portion of coil 40, thence through wires I46, I48 and II2 to battery 42. From battery 42 the circuit is completed through wire 06, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 10.

When contact point 62 is reached by brush 86, core 26 is drawn to the position shown in Fig. 1 by energizing the righthand portion of coil 34 through the following circuit:

Contact point 62, wire I50 to the coil 34, wires I52, I54, I06, I00, H0 and II2 to battery 42-- wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 62. Thus, as contact point 62 is passed, chime bar I0 will be sounded.

When contact point 64 is reached, chime bar I2 will be sounded because core 28 will be drawn thereagainst through the energization of the righthand portion of coil 36 through the following circuit:

Wire I56, coil 36, wires I58, I60, I02, IIO, II2, battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 64. The next succeeding chime bar I4 is sounded by moving core 30 thereagainst when the righthand portion of coil 38 is energized through the following circuit:

Contact point 66, wire I62, coil 38, wires I64, I66, IIO, II2, battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 66. The last 4 chime bar I6 is sounded when the righthand portion of coil 40 is energized to draw coil 32 against the bar. The following circuit is closed when brush 66 reaches contact point 66:

Wire I68 to coil 40, wires I10, I12, II2, battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86.

The continued downward movement of piston 88 brings brush 86 into contact with point 12, whereupon coil 46 on rocker arm 44 is energized to shift the weight to the right and return the arm to the position shown in Fig. l. The energization of coil 46 is through the following circuit:

Wire 14, coils 46, wires I02, I04, I00, I08, IIO, II2 to battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 12. On its way back to the position shown in Fig. 1, from the lowermost point reached in its path of travel, piston 68 draws brush 66 across contact points 10, 68, 66, 64, 62, 16 and in the order mentioned. When brush 86 reaches contact point 10 on its upward stroke, the lefthand portions of coils 34, 36, 38, and 40 are energized to withdraw cores 26, 26, 30 and 32 from their places against bars I0, I2, I4 and I6. The circuit which is closed to withdraw core 26, is as follows:

Contact point 10, wires I42, I14, I16, I16 to coil 34, wires I60, I54, I06, H13, IIO, II2, battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 10. To withdraw core 23, the circuit is closed as follows:

Wires I42, I14, I16, I82, coil 36, wires I64, I60, I08, IIO, II2, battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 86 to contact point 70. Similarly, core 30 is withdrawn through closing of the following circuit:

Wires I42, I14, I86, I89, I66, IIO, II2, battery 42, wire 96, contact bar 92, brushes 94 and 66 to contact point 10. Thus, all of the cores 26, 26 and 30 are set for movement toward their respective bars and when brush 00 reaches contact point 16, bar 32 is re-set as above set down. Obviously, when brush 06 travels across contact points 62, 04, 66 and 68, the chimes will be sounded by a successive striking of bars I9, I2, I4 and I6, all as clearly indicated herein.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the principle of operation remains substantially the same, as clarified above, and while the mechanical and electrical embodiments are slightly different, the basic idea of soundin a number of chime bars 200, 202, 204 and 206 at intervals remains the same. These several bars are each associated with resonating tubes 203, all of identical character. A solenoid is associated with each of the aforesaid bars and cores 2I0, 2I2, 2I4 and 2I6 are reciprocabiy mounted within their respective coils 2I9, 220, 222 and 224. A spring 226 on each core respectively yieldably maintains the core in a normal position shown in Fig. 3.

Rocker arm 220 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 200 and carries a double coil solenoid at one end, the core 232 whereof is free to shift as coils 234 and 266, as the case may be, are individually energized.

A weight 238 secured to core 232 moves therewith and shifts the balance of arm 223 to cause a movement of piston 240 in cylinder 242. Cylinder 242 is formed of insulating material and hingedly mounted as at 244. The space within cylinder 242 not occupied by piston 240, has a filling of electrical conducting liquid 246. A passage 248 formed as shown and controlled by needle valve 250, has an open side to permit liquid 246 to engage contact points 2 52, 254, 256, 258 and 260. These points are located in alignment and as piston 240 moves down, liquid 246 is forced upwardly through passage 248 and into engagement with the contact points just enumerated.

A brush 262 carried by piston 240 is engageable with contact point 264 when the equipment is in a normal position. Liquid 246 is always in engagement with contact point 266 which is joined to batter 268 by wire 210. A one-way ball valve 212 permits the flow of liquid 246 from passage 248 when piston 24'0 moves to the position illustrated.

A manually operable switch 214 is connected to contact point 264 by wire 216. The other side of this switch 214 is joined to coil 236 by wire 218. Contact point 252 is connected to coil 234 by wire 280 and coil 234 is joined to battery 268 by wires 282 and 284. Coil 236 is likewise connected to battery 268 through the medium of wires 282 and 286. One end of each of coils 218, 2 20, 222 and 224 is joined to battery 268 by wires 288, 290, 292 and 294 respectively, all of which have one end joined to a common terminal wire 290 extending from one pole of the battery.

Contact point 254 is connected to coil 218 by wire 298. Contact point 256 is joined to coil 220 by wire 300. Contact point 258 is joined to coil 222 by wire 302, and contact point 260 is joined to coil 224 by wire 304.

The operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 is not basically difierent from the manner in which the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 functions. When switch 214 is manually closed, coil 236 on arm 238 will be energized to shift weight 238 to the left, whereupon piston 240 will be forced down to raise liquid 246 into passage 248. As the level of the liquid rises, contact point 260 is first reached. The circuit for energizing coil 236 when switch 214 is closed is as follows:

Wire 218, coil 236, wires 286, 282 and 296, battery 268, wire 210, contact point 266, liquid 246, piston of conducting material 240, brush 262, contact point 264 and wire 216 back to switch 214. Downward movement of piston 240 is started and chime bars 206, 204, 202 and 200 are sounded in the order mentioned.

The interval between tones is governed by the needle valve 250 and if the periods are to be changed adustment of this needle valve is easily accomplished through the employment of the parts illustrated.

Coil 224 is energized when liquid 246 reaches contact point 260 through the following circuit:

Contact point 260, wire 304, coil 224, wires 294, 296 to battery 268, wire 210, contact point 266, liquid 246 to contact point 260. Core 2l6 will be quickly jerked against bar 206 and its associated spring 226 will withdraw the core to its normal position. The strength of these springs 226 is such as to overcome any tendency of the coils to maintain the cores against their respective bars and only the initial surge will draw the cores to a sounding position.

A liquid 246 reaches contact points 258, 256, 254, coils 22, 220, 218 will be energized as just set down with respect to coil 224. The circuits for these coils need not be traced.

When liquid 24'6 reaches contact point 252, coil 234 on arm 228 is energized to draw weight 239 back to the position shown in the drawings. The circuit closing this coil is as follows:

Point 252, wire 280, coil 234, wires 284, 292 and 296 to battery 268, wire 210, contact point 266, liquid 246 to contact point 252. As piston 240 is lifted, liquid 246 will flow back into the bottom of cylinder 242 through valve 212, whereupon the instrument is in a normal position to have the cycle of operation repeated when switch 214 is again closed.

Obviously, electrical and mechanical apparatus of a character different from that illustrated and described, might be employed to embody the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a periodic switch of the character described, a series of contact points in circuit with currentresponsive devices; a movable element for bringing an electrical conductor in said circuit into successive circuit-closing relation with the series of contact points; a rocker arm connected to said element; and means for rocking said arm in one direction from a normal position to impart movement to said element, said means for rocking the arm being a shiftable weight movable longitudinally along the arm in one direction by a first solenoid and movable in the opposite direction longitudinally along the arm by a second solenoid, one of the solenoids being in circuit with one of the contact points of said series thereof, the other solenoid being in a circuit having a manually operable switch the closing whereof energizes the solenoid to initiate movement of the rocker arm movable element having hydraulic means for varying the rocking speed of the arm with respect to its two directions of travel.

MILO F. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 673,372 Tirrill April 30, 1901 936,648 Marshall Oct. 12, 1909 972,516 De Wolf Oct. 11, 1910 1,749,775 Miller Mar. 11, 1930 I 1,766,528 Owen June 24, 1930 1,803,590 Bossard May 5, 1931 2,330,439 Mason Sept. 28, 1943 

